Holidays

Perhaps you are a little tense thinking of yet more toys for your child and you to maintain and tidy. Maybe you are just looking for more ways to spend some precious free time with your child. The following ideas are all about one of the best gifts for any loved one- the gift of time.

Make a skating date, roller or ice. You might not be able to stay on the rink as long as your child, but

With the gift giving season fast approaching, parents can struggle to find ways to include their children in more of the giving side of holiday time. We all love the surprise and joy of a child receiving a gift, but it can be hard to make the equation less lopsided. If gift giving is part of your holiday tradition, finding meaningful ways to include children can be tricky. I remember a school store that opened just before winter break when … Read More...

Halloween can be one of the most fun festivals of the year, but it often presents challenges to parents trying to foster a meaningful relationship with holidays. Add to that the current traditions that include so much candy and a sense of being “owed” treats and a family might want to sleep through October 31. There are ways, however, to bring meaning to Halloween. It shares qualities with traditions across many cultures that can inspire you to bring your own … Read More...

If like me you grew up in a tradition that did not observe Michaelmas, you might be at a loss regarding its significance; you might also wonder how to bring it to your children if the Christian stories do not fit within your family’s faith. Marking the day so close to the equinox draws our attention to the changes in our world. It can be a really beautiful way to bring our children’s attention to the season’s change in the … Read More...

We’re still looking at a foot of snow in Vermont, but our minds are focused on all that’s happening beneath this thick, white blanket. Our seasonal tables tend to reflect what we’re hoping for in this season of waiting more than what children might find outside. Our hopes around garden plans or new chicks to raise or even the feeling of warm grass beneath bare feet can be features of the spring display. Of course, for younger children, the Easter … Read More...

Just as we celebrate a baby’s “birth day”, when they are born and enter the world, a child’s birthday can be a time to hold him foremost in your heart and remind him of how glad you are that he arrived. There will probably be gifts, but birthdays and other holidays become a day apart when you mark them with your own traditions that have nothing to do with presents. One nice thing about building birthday traditions is that they … Read More...

You likely have fond memories of family trips. You remember your parents packing provisions, stuffing suitcases and loading everyone up in the car. While, as a kid, what you knew was that you had an unforgettable summer vacation, as a parent, you have probably realized those trips must have been hours of work in the planning and tons of tedium in the execution. Upon further reflection, you might even remember some of the less pleasant parts—bickering, endless hours of nothing … Read More...

Here in northern Vermont, the days are very short from early December until mid-January. Intellectually, I knew this would be the case when our family moved here from Texas, where the shortness of days is not as pronounced, but experiencing it in the flesh was another thing entirely. Indeed, there is so little light that my understanding of the focus on light in mid-winter across so many cultures has increased. If you feel the same, perhaps you might like to … Read More...

If you have spent much time looking at dolls, whether in the process of shopping as an adult or in the course of play during your own childhood, you will have noted the wide array of styles available–everything from very floppy baby dolls and rag dolls, completely unstuffed dolls, to very formed baby and child-like dolls. Aside from what you can see on the outside, though, it can be difficult to discern the real differences between dolls. Here are a … Read More...

A tradition in Germany and Sweden, these simple, all-natural straw ornaments are beautiful, affordable and fairly easy to make. Make some to grace your Christmas tree, then make some to give away as gifts. This is a good craft to do with children over the age of 5.